Very interesting read. My previous attempts at getting through it failed mainly in me getting on better with fiction than non-fiction and getting sidetracked by something else! I'm sticking at it this time though, and very glad I'm doing so.

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"Its staring at you in the face Mark, there's only one more sex to try..."

Finished this the other day - fascinating book. I highly recommend it to anyone with a passing interest of Everest (Sway?) It also just won the Samuel Johnson award for non-fiction book of the year or something.

Wow, how strange! Haven't been into this thread in a long time, and I just popped in tonight to post what I've finished reading and also to say I ordered the above book online this evening, having never heard of it before. The combo of war and mountaineering in the one title was too much for me to bear. Definitely looking forward to it.

Anyway I've been very lax with my reading of late.

I struggled through this for ages -

- despite it being a relatively thin book. It is really interesting and all encompassing - it covers history, natural history, geography, politics, social issues and much more, but I think the format of it didn't click with me. It was hailed as a bit of a travel classic, but the jumping all over the shop made it feel less accessible to me. Still, I hate not finishing books, so I finally pushed myself to finish it.

In the mean time I ordered this -

- and read it within about 3 days. Compelling.

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"I am not in danger, Skyler. I AM the danger! A guy opens his door and gets shot and you think that of me? No. I am the one who knocks!"

Incredible. Well, the first 400 pages were really good, probably tainted slightly because I could only read it in small chunks. Sat down and read the final 100 this afternoon. I'm still in a state of post-novel shock. The final set piece was brilliant. I actually don't know what to feel but I have this constant emotional pang in my stomach. (Gagging as I typed that). I'm so glad i've read it though.

Now i'm gonna move onto WWII fiction and read The Boy in Stripped Pyjamas which i'm assured is another sobfest.

I should probably give this a go - Been reading a book on Auschwitz, got Maus to read next so while I'm in a historical type mood this could be one to add to the pile.

One question - is it childrens/young adults book or fully fledged adults book? Not that it really matters if it's a good read but when I read War Horse for example, I found it was just that little bit too much in the 'kids book' camp...

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"Its staring at you in the face Mark, there's only one more sex to try..."

Bought today. Read the first chapter which gives a nice little insight into the job of a projectionist, a brief history of celluloid, and why going totally digital is a bad thing. Looking forward to some rants now.

I should probably give this a go - Been reading a book on Auschwitz, got Maus to read next so while I'm in a historical type mood this could be one to add to the pile.

One question - is it childrens/young adults book or fully fledged adults book? Not that it really matters if it's a good read but when I read War Horse for example, I found it was just that little bit too much in the 'kids book' camp...

I want to say it's in the kids book realm because it's told from the point of view of an 8 year old. But it's not. It's an adult book, but easy to read.

I'm currently reading Alone in Berlin by Fallada because i've been in a war mood too having finished Birdsong recently. I'm getting through it pretty slowly, not because it's bad though, but because i'm so tired after work I just want to sleep.

The biggest problem I am having with this book is that I am a third of the way in and so far it is essentially a police procedural story (people go into interview they tear the wrapper of the tapes, they put them into the machine, they press record). The plot is not particularly grabbing and it is populated by people I hate who spend all their time complaining about their jobs and the people they work with and not a single character is redeeming. I shall persevere as they have just got up to the magic bit of story but it is not an enjoyable read up to this point.

Ahead of another (hopefully, finally, successful...) attempt at American Psycho, I thought I get in the Easton Ellis mood with one of is shorter offerings that I haven't read. On 10% in but seems OK and readable so far!

I've enjoyed two of his books so far but always struggled to get into 'Psycho'. I get the impression all of his books are written in a certain distinctive style but that one really tested my patience on the previous attempts.

< Message edited by Super Hans -- 18/12/2012 8:28:56 PM >

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"Its staring at you in the face Mark, there's only one more sex to try..."

Don't bother trying with American Psycho again, really not worth it in my opinion. I'm re-reading LA Confidential again, only about 60 pages in but whenn you read it again the scope and depth becomes more apparent. An absolute beast of a book.

< Message edited by Woger -- 18/12/2012 8:50:46 PM >

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Eddie: "Weve been burgaled" Richie: You may have been, but I have never in my life. As a christian I am so tightly clenched, oh you mean burgaled - - - There were originally five horsemen of the apocalypse. Jack Bauer said he would travel by foot

Don't bother trying with American Psycho again, really not worth it in my opinion. I'm re-reading LA Confidential again, only about 60 pages in but whenn you read it again the scope and depth becomes more apparent. An absolute beast of a book.

Yeah...I'm in two minds really, only really own it now as it was dirt cheap one time on Kindle! Mianly had my interest renewed by watching the film again recently, which I really like.

Been tempted by James Ellroy for ages, I should really give his stuff a go!

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"Its staring at you in the face Mark, there's only one more sex to try..."

A great fantasy novel that can be best described as 'Discworld meets Underworld'. If you are a fan of Locke Lamora or other similar fantasy books you should check it out. Only 99p on Kindle as well, which is a bargain.

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Don't try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person You hadn't had enough to know what it's like You're only angry cause you wish you were in my position Now nod your head cause you know that I'm right..alright!

Been tempted by James Ellroy for ages, I should really give his stuff a go!

I've only read two of his: Black Dhalia which was ok but nothing to write home about and American Tabloid which was a truly terrible book, absolutely awful.

Get out. I love the whole seedy underbelly element. I was going to recommend Teh Black Dhalia as an introduction to his other 1950's LA stuff. There is a UK author called David peace who has four books which are very similar which I also love (1974, 1977, 1980 & 1983), if you liek gritty crome you should love them.

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Eddie: "Weve been burgaled" Richie: You may have been, but I have never in my life. As a christian I am so tightly clenched, oh you mean burgaled - - - There were originally five horsemen of the apocalypse. Jack Bauer said he would travel by foot